BS7858 security screening and SIA licence checks.
What the standard asks for, how to check an SIA licence, and how to get the employment history part done without weeks of phone calls.
What is BS7858 screening?
BS 7858 is the British Standard code of practice for screening people who work in a secure environment, published by BSI. It covers identity, right to work, a verified history of employment and other activity (usually five years), financial checks and a criminal record check. SIA approved contractors must screen to it. RefAssure handles the employment history references; the other checks are done separately.
What BS7858 checks usually include.
Always work from the current edition of the standard, BS 7858:2019, and your client's requirements.
Identity
Confirm the person is who they say they are, using original documents.
Activity history
Employment, education, self-employment and time out of work over the screening period, usually five years, with gaps accounted for.
Financial checks
A credit check for county court judgments, insolvency and similar records.
Criminal record
A basic disclosure from DBS, Disclosure Scotland or AccessNI.
SIA licence
For licensable roles, a check of the SIA register of licence holders.
How BS7858 screening works in practice
Who has to use it
For SIA approved contractors, following BS 7858 is a condition of approval. The SIA's guidance also says that if you outsource screening, you remain responsible for making sure it conforms to the standard. Outside the regulated security industry, BS 7858 is widely used by facilities management firms, alarm and CCTV installers, cleaning contractors, cash handling, events companies and others whose clients ask for it in their contracts.
The screening period and gaps
Screening guidance consistently describes a five-year screening period, or back to the end of full-time education if that is more recent, with longer periods for some roles. Every period of employment, self-employment, education or unemployment should be verified, and gaps of more than about a month need accounting for. Check the exact rules in the standard itself.
Provisional employment
The standard allows provisional employment in defined circumstances after initial checks are done, with full screening completed within a set time. Published guidance gives 12 weeks for a five-year screen. Treat it as a controlled exception, with a risk assessment, not a way to put unscreened people into sensitive posts.
Where the time goes
The slow part is almost always the history. A five-year history can mean four or five employers, each needing to confirm dates in writing, and each one easy to forget about. That is the part RefAssure takes off your desk.
Five years of history, chased automatically.
Add every employer in the screening period as a referee. RefAssure collects consent, contacts each one and keeps chasing until they reply.
- Candidate consent collected online, with signature, before referees are contacted
- 5 emails and up to 2 texts over 12 days for every referee
- Ask for exact start and end dates using the date range question
- Signed PDF with timestamps for consent, requests, reminders and completion
How to check an SIA licence
The Security Industry Authority keeps a public register of licence holders, free to search online. You can search by licence number. The result shows the licence sector, such as door supervision, security guarding or CCTV, whether it is front line or non-front line, the expiry date and its status, including whether it has been suspended or revoked.
The SIA treats the register, not the plastic card, as the definitive check. So check the register before someone starts, and recheck it during employment. SIA approved contractors also have access to licence management tools that track their staff's licences.
A valid SIA licence is not a substitute for BS 7858 screening. The SIA runs its own checks when it grants a licence, but your screening is about your role, your client and your contract. RefAssure does not check SIA licences; use the SIA register for that.
BS7858 and SIA questions
More in the full FAQs.
How many years does BS7858 screening cover?
Screening guidance describes a five-year screening period, or back to leaving full-time education if that is more recent, and longer for some roles. Confirm against the current edition of BS 7858 and your client's contract.
Can someone start work before BS7858 screening is complete?
The standard allows provisional employment in defined circumstances once initial checks are done, with full screening completed within a set period. Published guidance gives 12 weeks for a five-year screen. Keep a risk assessment on file.
How do I check an SIA licence?
Search the SIA register of licence holders online using the licence number. It shows the sector, expiry date and status. The register is the definitive check, not the card.
Is BS7858 a legal requirement?
Not for every employer. It is a condition for SIA approved contractors, and many clients require it in contracts. Other employers use it as good practice for sensitive roles.
Does RefAssure do full BS7858 screening?
No. RefAssure collects the employment history references with consent, chasing and a signed audit trail. Identity, right to work, credit, criminal record and SIA checks are done separately.
What if a previous employer has closed down?
Record the attempt and use other evidence the standard accepts, such as HMRC records or payslips, plus a written explanation from the candidate. See our guide to employment history checks.
How much does it cost to reference five years of history?
Your first reference is free. Credits then cost from 99p down to 80p each, never expire and have no VAT added. See pricing.
Related guides
The history part of BS7858, handled.
Your first reference is free. Add each employer and RefAssure chases them all.